Friction-clutch.



H. H. BENN. l FRIGTION CLUTCH. APPLICATION FILED MAB. 28, 1910.

Patented Aug. 2, 1910.

H. H. BENN. FRID'TION CLUTCH. APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 29.1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Ptented Aug. 2, 1910.

HANS H. BENN, F DAVOS PLATZ, SWITZERLAND.

FRICTION-CLUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2, Mild.

Application led March 28, 1910. Serial No. 552,007.

such as will enable ot 1ers skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in friction clutches of thev type 1n which fric tion rings are moved into and out of their service position by means of toggle levers acted upon by a spring or springs, the latter serving to maintain and hold the fr1c tion lates in their service osition when the c utch is in operation. ith this type of clutch, difficulty has been experienced in the provision of simple and effective means which while driving and guiding the friction rin s in a satisfactory manner, also allow for t e ready removal of said rings and their connected parts from the hollow drum, for the purpose of inspection and renewal.

The objects of the present invention are to overcome this diiiculty and certain disadvantages hereinafter referred to, incident to the present form of clutch of the type referred to. In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectlon of my improved clutch. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken in a different plane and with the cover removed. Fig. 3 is a side view, partly in section, illustrating the parts as removed from the hollowr drum for the purpose of inspection or repair. Fi s. 4 and 5 are horizontal cross sections wlth the end cover removed and in position, respectively. Figs. 6 and 7 are cross sections and a partial end view, showing a modification.

a and p represent the shafts, either of which may be the driving shaft. The shaft,

a, has keyed thereon a ho ow drum b internally screw-threaded on one end to receive an. annular cover c. Means such as a bolt passing through the drum Z)l and entering a slot in the cover c, may be employed to prevent the rotation of said cover. This cover is provided with holes or lugs (not shown) by means of which it may be removed from or inserted into the drum (ln the shaft p is keyed a driving drum fm, and on this drum m. are mounted two frietion rings d, being keyed to said drum in the usual manner by keys n, passing into key ways in the rings J, but adapted to be slid off of said drum, as shown in Fig. 3. The friction rings d are arranged to bear against the inner faces of the drum band the cover c by means of toggle levers c, operated by links connected to the levers y, said'levers being mounted on pins in a sleeve g, which is slidably mounted on the shaft p and arg ranged to fit within the cover c, as shown in Fig. 1. In ordinary` service conditions, these levers f, by means of the connections already described, press the friction rings d against the interior of the drum.

/L represents springs, bearing on the levers f, which ordinarily tend to press said levers so that they extend the toggles e and therefore hold the friction rings d in Contact with the drum b and its cover. These springs are of the compression instead of the eX- tension't-ype, as have hitherto been employed. The objection to the extension type is that they are very easily overstrained, after which they give reduced power, even though there may be no outward visible sign of their having been overstrained. The position in which they work does not lend itself to the introduction of safety stops to prevent overstraining. difficulty obviously does not occur. In the form shown in Fig. 5, the springs It, which bear upon the levers f, are held by yokes z', connected together by bolts y' and the tension of the springs may be adjusted by screwing or unscrewing the nuts on said bolts j.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the levers f have extended ends, and the springs /L are carried on stirrups c in the usual manner. These stirrups are composed of two parts, 'one sliding within the other and one terminating in a head, and the tension of the springs may be adjusted by the bolts on one of the parts of the stirrups.

The sleeve g is slidably mounted t 1 the shaft p and to retain the ring;` Z in their proper position on the drum m, when the clutch is disengaged I provide inclined bolts o, which serve as stops. When these bolts are screwed homeas shown in Fig. 2, they, when the clutch is being disengaged, limit the withdrawal motion of the back friction With compression springs this i ring which contacts with their projecting" n ends and insures the positive disengagement sliding sleeve g -would be entirely communicated to the inner friction ring, and there would be no positive release of the outer friction ring. When, however, it is desired to remove the interior parts for inspection or repair, the cover c 1s first removed, as shown in Fi 2, then the bolts o are unscrewed unti their outer ends become flush with the surface of the drum m, as shown in Fig. 3, whereupon all the interior parts can be removed, as indicated in Fig. 3. To reassemble the drum, the parts are pushed in from the position shown in Fig. 3 until one of the friction rings d contacts with the surface of the drum b, and the bolts 0 are then screwed into the position shown in F ig. 2. The cover c is then screwed in and the clutch is fully assembled as shown in Fig. l.

In operation, the disks CZ are held firmly against the drum b and cover o by means of the springs h, acting through the connections already described.

Vihile I have shown and described my invention as applicable to shaft clutch, it will of course be understood that it can also be applied to pulley couplings and similar constructions.

l claim l. ln a friction clutch, the combination of a shaft having' a drum keyed thereto, another shaft having a smaller drum keyed thereto, friction disks carried on said second named drum, means for pressing said friction disks away from each other, against the interior of" the. first named drum, and stops carried by said second named drum for normally holding one of said friction rings in Aposition when the clutch is disengaged, substantially as described.

2. In a friction clutch, the combination of a shaft having a hollow drum keyed thereto, an annular cover adapted to be screwed into one end of said drum, a second shaft in line with said first named shaft, a. smaller drum keyed to said second namedl shaft, a plurality of friction rin s keyed to and sliding on said second name drum, a sleeve surrounding said second named shaft, means for pressing said friction rings against said first named drum and its cover, including s rings, levers, links, and toggle joints, said s eeve, friction rings, and connections bein adapted to be slid freely along said secon named shaft, and adjustable stops carried by said second drum to provide for the positive disenge ement of the clutch by the movement o said sleeve, substantlally as described.

3. In a friction clutch, the combination of a shaft, a hollow drum ke ed thereon, an annular cover adapted to ze screwed into one end of said drum, a second shaft in line with said first named shaft a smaller drum keyed to said second naine` shaft,.a plurality of friction rin s mounted on said second named drum and eyedl thereto, butadapted to slide thereon, a sleeve adapted to slide freely on said second 'named shaft, levers mounted in said sleeve, links carried by the interior ends of said levers, tog le levers connected to said links and to sai rings, respectively, and compression springs normally tending to extend said to gles and cause engagement of said friction mngs with said drum, substantially as described.

el.. In a friction clutch,` the combination of a shaft, a hollow drum keyed thereon, an annular cover adapted to be screwed into one friction end of said drum,\a second shaft in line with said first named shaft, a smaller-drum 1ocated within said first named drum and keyed to said second named shaft, a plurality of friction rinus mounted on said second named drum and keyed thereto,but'adapted to slide thereon and to en a .e with the inner` faces of said first name rum and cover stops adjustablysecured in said second named drum for engaging one of saidfriction rings, a sleeve a apted to 4slide freely on said second named shaft and entering said cover, levers mounted in said-sleeve links carried by the interior ends of sai lever, toggle levers connected tosaid links and to said friction rings, respectively, and compression springs,the force of which can be adjusted, normally tending to extend said togglesand cause said friction'rings to engage with said drum and cover,substant1ally as described.

in testimony whereof, I affix my slgnature, in presence of two witnesses. v

HANS H. BENN..

lVitnesses ERNST ToNzAL, M. SCHUDAK. 

